Stephen Philbin Awards

The Stephen Philbin Awards were created in 1983 to honor the memory of Stephen H. Philbin, a long-time member of the Dallas Bar Association and a partner with the firm of Locke, Purnell, Boren, Laney & Neely. Mr. Philbin died in 1982 from leukemia at the age of 39.

At the time of his death, Mr. Philbin was a leading authority on media law in Texas. He advised major publications and broadcast companies on libel law, regulations and licensing of broadcast properties, and fair comment rulings. Mr. Philbin was a graduate of Harvard Law School, and he received a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Yale University.

In honor of Mr. Philbin's contributions to media law in Dallas, the Philbin and Brock Families have funded the Philbin Awards, and the Dallas Bar Association has presented the awards annually since 1983.

Awards

A $750.00 cash prize will be awarded to the winner of each category. A $1,500.00 cash prize will be awarded to a grand-prize winner chosen from the entries in all categories. Award winners will also receive plaques recognizing their accomplishment.

Winners are announced at the Philbin Awards Luncheon, at the Belo Mansion (2101 Ross Avenue in Dallas). To inquire about the luncheon, contact Jessica Smith. To purchase tickets, contact Judi Smalling.

Judging Criteria

Entries for the Philbin Awards must cover some aspect of the legal system or its participants and should contribute to the public's understanding of the legal system. A panel of judges evaluates submissions for informational value, educational value, creativity, thoroughness, accuracy, clarity, interest, contribution to public debate, and the journalist's resourcefulness, courage, and initiative in pursuing the story. The judges reserve the right to transfer an entry to the appropriate category if the entry is more suitable to the criteria of another category. The judges reserve the right to not select a winner in a category if entries in said category do not meet the stated criteria.

We welcome the submission of entries by non-English language media. To facilitate judging, such entries must be translated into English.